East Siang Police launch Muskaan 2.0 for child safety

East Siang Police has completed the first phase of Project Muskaan, a child safety initiative, and has now launched Muskaan 2.0 to further protect school children.

Phase-I Results and Impact

Project Muskaan Phase-I ran from October 2025 to March 2026, reaching 16,897 students across 104 schools in the district. Superintendent of Police (SP) Pankaj Lamba announced the launch of Muskaan 2.0 on July 31, 2026, to strengthen preventive measures against child abuse, bullying, online exploitation, and emotional distress.

Police Ki Pathshala and Legal Action

Under the "Police Ki Pathshala" sessions, students were taught about child rights, the POCSO Act, cyber safety, and bullying prevention. The police installed 104 Child Safety Complaint Boxes in schools, which helped resolve 45 complaints through counseling and led to the registration of three POCSO cases for legal action.

Training and Support Systems

The initiative included 10 specialized training sessions for police personnel on child-friendly policing. Students visited Ane's Home, a child-friendly facility at the Women Police Station, and were informed about emergency helplines like Dial 112 and Childline 1098. Public personality Chum Darang served as the Child Safety Ambassador, and the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) praised the project.

Goals of Muskaan 2.0

Muskaan 2.0 will expand its reach to include parents and teachers through orientation programs and Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTM). The new phase will also focus on the regular monitoring and maintenance of school complaint boxes. SP Lamba stated that the well-being of children requires joint efforts from families, schools, and the community.